Man sues archdiocese over priest abuse allegations

A 45-year-old man filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Archdiocese of Chicago alleging that a Chicago priest sexually molested him repeatedly when he was between 15 to 17 years old.

Though the archdiocese had been notified that the priest had sexually abused young boys, including the victim, he was allowed to remain a priest, according to the lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court. The lawsuit accuses the archdiocese of concealing the priest’s behavior from the victim, his family, law enforcement and other parishioners in an attempt to avoid a scandal.

The victim suffered from severe emotional trauma as a result of the abuse, which occurred between 1981 and 1984, the lawsuit says.

The accused priest was ordained in or around 1974 and has worked in at least four parishes in the Chicago area, according to the lawsuit.

The plaintiff’s attorney is Joseph Klest, who has represented similar clients in more than 15 cases in the Chicago area.

The Archdiocese of Chicago could not be reached for comment Thursday evening.